36 - Dragon Dance

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Help the Heavens cover for a missing goddess at her temple festival.
When: March 18
Where: Near the Sensou-ji temple in Asakusa
Summary: After Kannon's disappearance last year, the Heavens are concerned that things might go wrong at her temple's March 18 omikoshi festival. They've asked new gods and shinki to attend the festival and keep an eye out for trouble. Meanwhile, trusted newcomers and older gods and shinki alike are watching over the cultists that have been identified.






The Festival

Shrine-carriers, musicians and dancers congregate early in the morning in their matching outfits to get organized into their parade. Luckily, all of the parade participants this time are alive and well. There aren't even any troublesome ayakashi hanging around... so why is everyone having such bad luck?! Laces are breaking, costumes tearing, small children are getting sick from nerves, and even the drums seem to have gone out of tune. It looks like this parade is going to need a whole lot of help to prevent disaster.

For those who aren't busy with the parade preparations, food and souvenir booths throng the area in front of the temple. There's traveling games, too, and plenty of people showing up early with their families to find a good spot to watch the parade. This is one of Tokyo's most popular temples, so it's quite a crowd!

The Stakeouts

Any gods or shinki who were told about the cult problem by Amaterasu -- or anyone who might have heard from friends and allies about the plans -- can help Amaterasu's shinki keep a tight watch on all of the known cult members. Her shinki are looking for any sign of the young gods who she believes are behind all of this trouble, but are there other clues that might be found by a keen observer? Join in on staking out a cult member, and see what you can see.

Current cult members that the shinki are watching include:

• Mitsui Ryou - lives alone in a medium-sized apartment, appears to work a 9 - 5 schedule with occasional late nights.
• Imai Takeru - lives in a small two-story house by himself, has an unpredictable schedule.
• Shimoda Tsuki - lives alone in a small apartment with a lot of plants, works retail with varying shifts.
• Oota Saburo- lives in a medium-sized apartment with his wife and two young children, works a 9 - 5 schedule with frequent work trips.
• Maeda Shinnosuke - lives alone in a small, messy apartment, works construction (early mornings, long days.)
If your character is taking part in the surveillance of any of these people, please feel free to comment to the Cult Clues thread below with the name of the character they're watching, and the times that they're watching that character, in order to learn what they might see. (Note: surveillance doesn't have to take place only on the 18th. Characters can take part in watching the cult members at any time after Amaterasu's announcement on March 8.)

The Parade

At noon, the parade begins. Misfortune is still dogging the participants and the crowds around them, but it looks as though everything will go all right up until the final turn as the heavy, gilded shrine turns back towards the main temple building, tips, and slowly falls over sideways, straight for the crowd.

What's worse, when the shrine hits the ground, it cracks open -- and a huge, jellyfish-like ayakashi wearing a giant white mask with a single black eye inscribed on it heaves its way out and begins lashing its tentacles in every direction. People stung by the tentacles are driven into a furious frenzy, and fights are breaking out everywhere. Stop the humans from fighting, take care of the injured, and destroy the ayakashi before the situation gets any worse.

The Pursuit

In the middle of the fighting crowd, two white-robed shinki are chasing after a very average-looking salaryman in a tan coat. He doesn't seem to know that the shinki are chasing him, but he is moving fast, and they're in danger of losing track of him. They're calling out to any Far Shore denizen close enough to hear, shinki or god:

"Don't let that guy get away! He knows what happened!"

Anyone who has met or spent time staking out Mitsui Ryou will recognize him as the escaping salaryman. If your character takes part in the pursuit, please comment to the Cult Clues thread with a link to your thread - the character who successfully catches Mitsui will be determined by RNG on January 6, 2019.

In Summary:

• Attend the Sensou-ji festival
• Enjoy food and games
• Help Amaterasu's shinki stake out the cult
• Fight a masked ayakashi
• Have fun~

Comments

[curruid_coinchenn]

... No.

[ A simple answer. Berserker can't ask that of her, if only because it would be unfair to her. Carefully, he cradles her in his arms, still not looking too thrilled with the situation. ]

We're going back to the temple and you will rest.

[holygrailed]

[Even with her short height and light frame, Irisviel is far lighter than she should be in Berserker's arms. Her head lolls against him, offering no resistance.]

Yes, Berserker.

[Her eyes close. It may look as she's fallen asleep, but she says quietly after a brief pause:]

You are my god, I am your shinki. I do not wish to insult you with my actions. If you are displeased, say so.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ He teleports to Giant's Grave, frustration building in him. ]

I'm only displeased because you pushed yourself too hard. You're no good to anyone in this state.

[ Into the temple and upstairs, he's on a mission. He stops for nothing on his way to Irisviel's room, setting her down in her bed. ]

You are to rest now. If you need anything, I will get it for you.

[holygrailed]

[A shinki does not have the benefit of knowing how their god feels. They can only talk it out. Irisviel sighs softly at Berserker's words. Her mood fades into sadness. There's no regret for her actions, but she did not mean to disappoint him either.

Her hand reaches out for him as she's set on her bed, a feeble grab at his hand or arm.]

Is it better to have done my best and be tired, or held back and still have energy after? But you are right, I can do nothing for you now.

I will be fine after rest.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Sadness is a familiar emotion, but not like this. To be sad because of someone else...Strange. As her hand comes to rest on his arm, he doesn't pull away. He stays standing where he is, his expression returning to neutral. ]

In the end it's your decision, not mine. Do as you will, but be mindful I may not be able to make it in time to ensure your safety next time.

[ Not a threat or anything remotely like it, but a reminder. It's something he's quite sure Irisviel knows, but it's a point he feels is important. His shinki's safety is important to him, after all, and one of the driving forces for him in this place. To voice these feelings, however, is another thing entirely. Instead, he allows his actions to speak for him instead.

He doesn't leave the room, but lingers. ]

...What do you need right now?

[holygrailed]

[She knows. Perhaps next time it's another frenzied crowd, but more violent and he and other friends far away. Perhaps it'll be ayakashi again. There are always dangers and she must survive for both their sakes.

Do better. Be more careful. Be who she can only be, but above all, do not die.]

My mana will replenish with rest, though I do not know how long it'll take. Will you keep me company?

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ He nods and takes a seat against the wall. It's the least he could do. ]

I will stay here as long as you want me to.

[holygrailed]

Do not become too bored on my behalf though.

[Irisviel smiles, a little teasing, a little knowing. Watching her sleep, doing elsewhere... if he's apathetic to everything, then one doesn't matter any more than the other. His company is appreciated though, touching and comforting in a way that feels safe and warm.

She brushes her hair out of her way as she settles on the bed, ignoring the covers she's laying on. Eyes closing, she finally gives in to sleep.

It's deep and restful. Irisviel sleeps through the rest of the day and the next day without stirring.]